Acetylene-gas generator.



0. W. ADSIT; AGETYLBNE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1'7, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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CHARLES W. ADSIT, OF OWATONNA, MINNESOTA,

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application filed June 17, 1914. Serial No. 845,514.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. Ansrr, citizen of the United States, residing at Owatonna, in the county of Steele and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene gas generators, intended for general use, but especially adapted for use in connection with the lighting systems of automobiles, motorcycles, and the like.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, principally in longitudinal central section, taken through the improved gas generator; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front end portion of the improved gas generator, some parts being broken away and some of the exposed parts being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carbid holder and residue holder, some parts being broken away; Fig. 4 is a detail view in transverse section, taken on the line m 09 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a view, corresponding to Fig. 4 with the exception that the valve is shown in a different position.

The numeral 1 indicates a cvlindrical outer casing, closed at one end and open at the other, said open end being normally closed by a head 2, having a hand-piece 3. This head 2 is seated on a pliable packing 4, mounted .in an annular groove 5 formed in the outer open end portion of the casing 1. A cross bar 6 and presser foot 7 are provided for holding the head 2 seated on the packing 4. The cross bar 6 is fulcrumed at one end between a pair of lugs 8, integrally formed with the casing 1 and its other end is detachably and adjustablv secured to said casing by astirrup 9 and a set-screw 10. The legs of the stirrup 9 are pivoted to a lug 11, integrally formed with the casing 1 diametrically opposite the lugs 8; and the setscrew 10 has screw-threaded engagement with the transverse portion of said stirrup,

with its inner end impinging against the cross bar 6. As best shown in Fig. 1, the presser foot 7 has screw-threaded engagement with the intermediate portion of the cross bar 6 and bears directly on the central portion of the head 2. This presser foot 7 is provided with a knurled body portion 12, by which the same may be rotated for placing its outer end in different relative positions with respect to the cross bar 6.

Extending transversely through the easing 1 is a transverse partition 13, which divides said easing into a relatively small water chamber 14, located at the inner end of the casing, and a relatively large generating chamber 15, located at the open end of said casing. Water Y may be introduced into the chamber 14, from time to time, through an opening 16, formed in the closed end of the casing 1 and normally closed by a wing-equipped plug 17, having screw-threaded engagement with the casing 1. Extended axially through the plug 17 is a yieldingly closed air valve 18, similar to valves used in connection with pneumatic tires and of well-known construction.

Secured to the top of the casing 1 and depending into the water chamber 14, just forward of the plug 17, is a valve casing 19, having a transverselv extended port 20, which extends parallel with the axis of the casing 1. Within the valve casing 19 is mounted a twoway spring-seated plug valve 21, having its port 22 arranged to be moved into and out of registration with the port 20 in the casing 19. Also secured to the top of the casing 1 and leading from the water chamber 14, is a relief valve 23,. having on the outwardly projecting end of its stem :1 knurled finger piece 24, by which the valve 23 may be opened, at will, to reduce the air pressure within the water chamber 14. This relief valve may be of the standard or any desired construction and is arranged to open under a predetermined pressure within the water chamber 14.

Rigidly secured to the lower portion of an annular shoulder, formed by reducing the inner portion of the head 2, is a semi cylindrical residue pan 25, arranged to be telescoped into the generating chamber 13 in close engagement with the bottom thereof. Detachably and removably secured to the residue pan 25 is an inverted semicylindrical carbid holder 26, which, together with the residue pan 25, form a complete i which the ashes from the carbid: sift into the residue pan 25. When the improved gas generator is. used in connection with the lighting systems of vehicles, the 12H of said vehicles will shake the ashes from the carbid holder 26 through the perforated section ofv the bottom thereof into the residue-pan 25. When theimproved gas generatoris mounted on a stationary support, it' will be necessary to shake the generator, from time to time, to cause the ashes to sift through the perforated section 28 of the carbidholder.

The water Y in the chamber l4 is delivered onto the carbid Z within-theholder 26, through a supply pipe 29; Thereceiving end of, this pipe 29' extends vertically upward through the water Y from a point close to the bottom of the chamber 14 to a point above the waterline and near the top of said chamber. From thence, said pipe extends horizontally through the partition 13 and through a large opening 30, formed in the top ofthe carbid-holder 26', into a position to deliverwater onto the carbid Z. The water supply pipe29, at the junction of the vertical and horizontal members thereof, is provided'with a vent pipe 31, which opens into the port 20 of the casing 19' and into whichthe port 22, of the valve 21, is adapted to be moved into and "out of registration.

Obviously, when the port 22 is in registration with the vent pipe 31, there will be afree .passage between the water chamber 14,

:above the water line, and the generating chamber 15.

Gas formed in thegenerating chamber 15 passes'through a delivery pipe-32, having interposed therein a needle valve 33,- by

which the flow of gas may be regulated or entirely out off. Various branch pipes, not shown, may be extended from the delivery pipe 32 to the several burners of the lamps of automobiles, motor-cycles, or any'other lamp supplied with gas from the improved generator These branch pipes may be-of metal or rubber, as desired.

Secured to the top of the casing 1, and having communication with the generating chamber 15, is a presser gage-34, which may be of the standard or of any desired construction.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the carbid holder 26 are extended so as to project into the residue pan 25 and thereby interlock said holder and pan.

Operation: The operation of the above described gas generator may be briefly-dc .bers to equalize and water onto the carbid. y

It has been found, in actual usage, that,

closed'and air pressure is placed on the water Y by means of an air pump, not shown, connected to the valve 18'. This air pressure will: cause the water Y to flow through the pipe 29 onto the carbid Z to start the generation of gas to afford" the initial supply. After the initial supply of gas has been generated, the relief valve 23 is opened, by drawing outward on: its-stem, and held open long enough to draw off the air withinthe chambers 14 an'd'15- This reduction of the air pressure in the chambers 14 and 15 will cause the gas in thegenerating chamber 15 to back up through the pipe i 29 and pass through the water Y into the chamber 14, above the water line, until the pressure in the chambers 14 and -l5is again equalized This backing up of the gas will also prevent further flow of water through the pipe 29, thereby checking the generation I I The improved generator 1s now 0 of gas. ready to. supply a constant and even pressure of gas to the burners. The flow of gas tothe burners may be entirely out 05 or regulated by the adjustment of the 'needle .i.

valve 33'. When the pressurein the generating chamber 15 is reduced below: that inthe chamber 14, by the consumption of gas fed to the lighted burners, the greater pressure on the water Y willagain 'cause'the water to flow through the pipe29 onto the carbid Z and start further generation of gas. After sufficient gas has beengener-atedto raise the pressure in the chamber 151abovethatin the chamber 14, the gas will again back up "IF through thepipe 29,, through the water Y intothe chamber 14, above the water line, until thepressure between said two chamhers is again equalized, and cutting oif'the water supply. hen the gas pressure inthe 1 chamber 15" again drops below the pressure in the chamber 14, by the consumption of gas, the flow of water to the carbid is again i started in the manner as previously stated.

By thisarrangement, the gas is generated only as used and-there-is IlOtWitSt. It is also evident that the flow of water-to the carbid may be stopped; at will, simply-by opening thev valve 21, to equalize the pres? sure within the chambers 14 and'15. WVhen V i the generator is not in use, the valve 21 should be open to afford a free passage be: tween the chamber15 and the chamber 14, above the water line, through the horizontal section of the pipe 29'and ventpipe 31', to

permit the pressure within-said two champrevent the flow of without the valve-equipped vent; 31, water in use, through the pipe 29 onto the carbid simply by the change in temperature between day and night, or the taking of the generator from outdoors, where the atmosphere is cool, into a warm room.

The above described generator, while extremely simple and of comparatively small cost to manufacture, has, in actual usage, proven highly efficient for the purpose had in view.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a water supply pipe, leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber, and arranged to deliver into said generating chamber, and a valveequipped vent at the intermediate portion of said pipe, opening into said water chamber above the water line.

2. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a water supply pipe, leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber and arranged to deliver into said generating chamber, a valve-equipped vent at the intermediate portion of said pipe, opening into said water chamber above the water line, and a normally closed air valve, through which air may be forced into said water chamber.

3. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a water supply pipe, leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber and arranged to deliver into said generating chamber, a valve-equipped vent at the intermediate portion of said pipe, opening into said Water chamber above the water line, and means for placing the water in said water chamber under pressure.

4. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a water supply pipe, leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber and arranged to deliver into said generating chamber, a valve-equipped vent at the intermediate portion of said pipe, opening into said water chamber above the water line, a normally closed air valve, through which air may be forced into said water chamber, and a relief valve for said water chamber.

5. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a carbid holder within said generating chamber, a water supply pipe leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber and arranged to deliver into said carbid holder, and a valveequipped vent at the intermediate portion of said pipe, opening into said water chamber above the water line.

6. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a carbid holder within said generating chamber, a water supply pipe leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber and arranged to deliver into said carbid holder, a valve-equipped vent at the intermediate portion of said pipe, opening into said water chamber above the water line, and a relief valve for said water chamber.

7. In a gas generator, the combination with a water chamber and a generating chamber, of a water supply pipe, leading from a point below the water line in said water chamber into said generating chamber, and a valve-equipped vent between said two chambers, above the water line.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. ADSIT.

Witnesses:

M. F. BAU'IER, A. E. VASBINDER.

Gopies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

